Lithuania calls on Russia and so-called authorities in South Ossetia region to free the detained Georgian physician. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevicius said in his statement on Twitter.

‘Today’s decision by so-called court in Tskhinvali region of Georgia to imprison Dr. Gaprindashvili reminds us about the non-existence of rule of law in occupied Georgian regions,’ Linkevicius noted.

Today’s decision by so-called court in Tskhinvali region of?? to imprison Dr. #Gaprindashvili remind us about non-existence of rule of law in occupied Georgian regions. #Lithuania calls on Russia & so-called authorities in??S.Ossetia region to free the detained Georgian physician pic.twitter.com/gAciM2qTM1

— Linas Linkevicius (@LinkeviciusL) December 20, 2019

Occupied Tskhinvali court sentenced Vazha Gaprindashvili to one year and nine-months to prison earlier today.

Tbilisi-based doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili was illegally detained by Russian occupation forces near the occupation line with Akhalgori Municipality on November 9. He was sent to a two-month pretrial detention on November 15.

Vazha Gaprindashvili was charged with “illegally crossing the border” under article 322 of the criminal code of Russia.